Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-01-15
COLORED CLANS AT WORK.

tanned an article with the above head
ing, which article set forth that the
colorcd people in the Southern part of
this county are organizing for mischief
against the whites. We have heard
and know nothing more of the trouble
than the article in the Chronicle. We
hope there is no ground really for the
excitement. We hope and believe
that the raiding on the meeting spoken
of was unnecessary; that the entry,
"We will knife the farm Bosses"
simply meant they will strike and not
work. In this we take for granted
that the statements in the Chronicle
are entirely true (of which we have
serious doubts.)
There has been much talk in the
papers recently of violence by organ
lied colored societies. If there is
foundation for this talk, then the par
ties ought to be apprehended and
punished according to law. If the
talk is from mere suspicion, the origi-
majors do much harm by agitating
such things without foundation. 1t
brings about mistrust and unsteady
state of affairs between the races,
when it ought to be perfectly settled
Peace and harmony between the races
in this country is absolutely necessary.
and the man who speaks one word or
commits one act knowingly, 10 break
the peace between the races, is com
mon enemy TO the country.
We are friend to the laboring
man: We believe in tralesunions.
labor organizations, &c.: but we be-
lieye in having system aud order; we
believe in these organizations being
conducted upon common sense princi-
pies, and led by sober reason.
We are persuaded to believe that
these many newspaper h is are intend
cd to injurc the knights of Labor.
If so, we do not endorse them While
We know bad men can exert an infu-
cnce for evil in this Order, as well
as elsewhere, and in some instances
pass bad laws and devilish resolutions,
yet we have been able to find no fault
in the order.
We here repeat what we have often
told our people, the destiny of the
Negro race is in the hands of our own
preachers and teachers. The preacher
has a text outside the Bible, or he
should make the Bible cover every
thing that is good. He is the moral
as well as the spiritual guide of a
community. and should instruct man
of his duty to his fellow-men when
neither is under religious excitement.
An ignorant man should be taught to
do thing because it is good and
right, and to refuse to do a thing be-
cause it is wrong-not because he'll
be punished if detected, but he should
be taught to detest wrong or sin of
every kind. The preacher is thus a
guide and help to the old folks.
while the teacher does much toward
helping the parent give proper shape
to the minds Of the young.
We were once criticised in the pull
pit for saying in this paper that our
people have ''too much preaching and
not enough lecturing. We believe
eight sermons month, properly APP
piled, are enough to save any poor
sinners soul. We hold that the
preacher has other duties than arous-
ing men, and pandering to their
religious excitement. All men need
to be reminded of their duties to them
selves and their fellow-meu as well as
to their God, aud our race stands in
special need Of exhortation. lectures.
&C.. when they are free from religious
excitement aud can remember and
profit by what is said to them.
We hope our preachers. teachers.
and the head Of every family, will
take it upon himself T. warn the pco-
pie aga INST all things that are wrong